Trying out a hunter as a prospective eventer?

[subk]

I'm horse hunting for my daughter and looking for something very laid back, quiet, easy going. Tomorrow we're headed out to look at a horse that was formally western, but for the last 6 months as been training in hunterdom. DD is only an intermediate rider and just needs wtc, jumping 2'6" for Pony Club and local type stuff for now. As long as he's quiet for that I can put more advanced training on him myself to event him down the road--that's the plan anyway. This guys sounds like the perfect been there done that kind of guy, yet I found out he goes in a slow twist snaffle. Now, I'm not one of those that necessarily thinks a twist is evil, and I certainly understand in a situation where you want minamal contact that more is less so to speak.

But my question is when I'm riding him what should I expect about putting him on some contact? I suspect that it may be way too much bit to expect a quiet horse to want to connect with. Should I not even try? Should I take a simple snaffle and after he goes around like a hunter ask if I'm can try him in a different bit? (Or is that rude?) Any suggestions as to what to look for in a horse you want to "convert?"

[RacetrackReject]

No real advice here, but just wanted to say that in my area, most QH/Paint type show horses that do pleasure and english classes go in a slow twist for the english classes. It's not so much for control but so it can be sawed on to get the head down. As I said, this is in my area, I am not trying to stereotype those type of horses, so please no flaming.

My old trainer would carry a bridle with snaffle quite often when we looked at horses and would try it out on one that wasn't going in a snaffle at the time. It was mostly because the horses we looked at went in western bits (ported), but no one ever had a problem with it and I don't think anyone felt offended. We just explained that for dressage the horse had to go in that type of bit, per the rules, so we wanted to try it out.

[Bobthehorse]

Id take a snaffle with you. I tried a horse that always went in a 3 ring and I could not gage what he would be like in my hands without it. I wish Id brought a plain snaffle, because I felt like I had no steering as he was just always behind the bit. Very frustrating.

[maxxtrot]

wish you were closer. i have a sweet boy that would fit your bill., but i too agree, take a plain snaffle with you. i would not have a problem if someone came to look at a horse of mine for sale and if they went in anything like a slowtwist ect..in asking to change bits. but most of mine are in happy mouths :)

[Horsegal984]

I wouldn't think it's a problem, since you want to 'bit down' so to speak. If I had someone come to try my horse and want to put in a harsher bit on the first ride I might have some objections. I would take the bit already on a bridle, as it would probably be easier to change that way, and you can always use the excuse above about how a slow twist isn't legal for dressage if they ask questions.

Oh, and the newest lesson horse at the eventing barn I ride at is a Hunterland reject. just an FYI ;)

[joiedevie99]

Bring a snaffle, but a slow twist isn't that much that you shouldn't be able to ride the horse on the bit. It might not be as soft, or as quiet in the bridle as you would see, but riding leg and seat up into the hand shouldn't be a problem.

[Bobthehorse]

Mine is a westernland reject! haha.

[Lincoln]

Probably making an obvious comment here, but if you want to event him, do try to take him somewhere to see how he reacts to life outside the ring. I tried a total been-there done-that type h/j who'd even done a little eventing. In stadium he was float the reins and go. Super easy. Turns out the "eventing" was really small and just little logs and coops. Further turns out he had plenty of scope but he wasn't brave over anything except very familiar obstacles. He could easily jump the Novice and Training Big Scary Boxes from the halt he greeted them with, but he didn't want to do it at all without at least a couple of huge stops first. It would have been a shame to find that out after the fact.

[Sebastian]

I have a mare, that for the HUNTER ring, goes in a twist. But, when doing low level eventing -- I put her in a plain french link and add a flash. She's perfect.

Seb :)

[gottagrey]

I think you needn't worry about the bit; sometimes horses just need a change - he might need to go in a slow twist for jumping; but might be fine w/ a snaffle in dressage. Many hunter riders do sort of a fake dressage - more hand, less leg to get their horses in a dressage type frame. It doesn't sound like you are in the market for a top level event horse - just a nice horse for your child to do pony club etc. My old barn one week we did hunters, next week play at a dressage show or event, end the weekend w/ a little team penning. While we might not have been rock stars - our horses never embarrassed us (we might have embarrassed them) and usually took home a ribbon or two.

[Invested1]

When I bought my horse, I did the hunters (kind of) and he was a 5 YO OTTB hunter prospect who had done 2 shows and done well in both.

A few months after I bought him, I went to watch my first HT and fell in love. He and I gave eventing a shot and haven't looked back (thankfully we *both* fell in love with it!! :yes:)!!!

:D

[FatDinah]

I have been in the same situation - looking for a steady guy for a child - and I totally endorse taking him out of the ring. That really sealed the deal on the guy we ended up with. Even though she merely trotted him over logs, he was calm and cool being out on the XC course alone.
I have seen some moms who DIDN'T test a pony or horse outside their familiar ring/barn arena and got an unpleasant shock when the kid took them out at a show or lesson.

[TBKate]

I agree with the suggestions for taking a snaffle with you and making sure you try him out of the ring. Even if they only have a log on the ground, see what he does. Some hunters are fantastic converts, and some lose their minds when the rail isn't there to follow. As for the bit, I wouldn't be offended at all if someone wanted to try a horse of mine in a softer bit, and I've taken my bridle and tried horses in it and never had a seller object.